Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft became a head-turner early on when Colorado Mines forward Tesho Akindele was picked at No. 6 in the first round by FC Dallas — becoming the highest drafted Division II player in the league’s 19-year history.

“It’s all surreal,” said Akindele, 21. “Right before the combine nobody was talking about me getting picked, definitely not in the first round and possibly not even until the fourth round. Nobody was talking about me. It just shows you how important every game is.”

I know that Real Salt Lake is the chief rival of the Colorado Rapids. And I know that there’s rich, nasty history there. And I know that perhaps no bad play is seared into my soccer memory more vividly than “the one mistake” goalkeeper Matt Pickens made in 2010, according to then-coach Gary Smith, on which the so-easy-to-hate Real Salt Lake striker Alvaro Saborío pried the door open for RSL to keep the Rocky Mountain Cup.

So I’m not saying that competition with Real Salt Lake isn’t a compelling rivalry.

What I’m saying is this: As a fan, there can be no more compelling games for the Rapids this year than those with FC Dallas, the new home of Óscar Pareja. Read more…

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Brian Mullan, winner of five MLS Cups in a long U.S. pro career, re-signed to a veteran contract to return for a fifth season with the Rapids, the team announced Tuesday.

Terms of the deal were not announced, although it’s likely, based on similar past deals, that Mullan’s is a one-year contract at a reduced salary. Colorado may also have an option on the deal beyond that.

Mullan, 35, took in $170,335 in salary last season, according to the MLS Players Union. But he played in just 16 games in the first half of the year. His final game of the season came as a 36-minute substitution on July 7.

Jamie Smith on Tuesday said he was in talks with the Colorado Rapids’ front office about his spot with the team next season — either as a player or a coach.

The Scottish veteran — who came to Colorado in 2009 after a long spell playing for Aberdeen and Celtic among others — played in just six game last season, with one goal and one start. He’s one of the few remaining players from the 2010 MLS Cup-winning team.

“I’m not getting any younger,” said Smith, 33. “I’m still discussing with the club what happens next. I’ve got a good rapport with them. (Coaching) is possible. We’ll see how it works out.

“But when the time comes to step into (coaching) hopefully that’s an opportunity that will be available.”

Oscar Pareja’s “next man up” philosophy, forced on the Rapids last season because of injury, will carry over to 2014 out of preference.

Colorado on Thursday took veteran left side defender Marc Burch from the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the MLS re-entry draft. Burch, an eight-year MLS veteran, arrives after two seasons in Seattle.

Martin Rivero continues to confound. With a hefty new contract and a fat transfer fee presumably on the very near horizon, where did he go? The Rapids playmaker hasn’t started a game in three months.

Rivero has disappeared in plain sight.

Since returning from a thigh injury in July, Rivero subbed on in the second half of just four games. Then last week, in Colorado against FC Dallas, Rivero was on the bench but never entered the game in 2-1 victory.

Rivero has played in just 11 games this season, with four starts. He has one goal and two assists.

“The times I’ve been able to go in, I’ve felt really good,” Rivero said. “I’m hopeful that in one of these remaining games I can start and play 90 minutes so I can show that I’m ready.”

COMMERCE CITY — The one American strength in soccer is goalkeeping. Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, more than 16,000 fans saw another one of America’s great goalies in Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando.

It may be a coincidence that RSL lost two straight with Rimando on national team duty before its 2-2 tie with Colorado but it’s doubtful. Rimando was remarkable. He made eight saves, many of the diving variety or from point-blank range after my deadline while RSL clung to a tie and the Western Conference lead.

COMMERCE CITY — I don’t get the Rocky Mountain Cup, honestly. It’s not like the cities of Denver and Salt Lake City have a generations old rivalry. This isn’t Rome-Milan. And the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake are two of 19 teams in the MLS.

When Colorado only tied RSL Saturday night 2-2, I thought the Rapids blew a golden chance to tie for the Western Conference lead. Turns out the 16,814 soaked fans went berserk over this trophy.